Water ballot sucess in Murrumbidgee

15 September 2009

100 percent of 337 water trade applications were successfully processed by State Water following the Murrumbidgee Valley water trade ballot which closed on Friday, 4 September 2009.

A total of 64,347megalitres (ML) of water will be traded following the ballot system, after the temporary relaxing of the water trade embargo out of the Murrumbidgee Valley.

State Water Customer Service Manager David Andersen said the corporation had been directed to conduct the ballot by the NSW Office of Water as a way of ensuring fairness in the processing of applications.

“The water trade embargo on the Murrumbidgee Valley was temporarily relaxed after an arrangement with Snowy Hydro Limited to release 200,000 ML of Murrumbidgee water into the Murray which meant 70,000ML could be traded out this season,” Mr Andersen said.

“We predicted the demand for trades to exceed the 70,000ML limit, so introduced the ballot system to determine the order for processing applications.”

Of the traded water, the majority, around 41,000ML, was sold to the NSW Murray River. Approximately 15,000ML will go to South Australia and around 8000ML to Victoria.

“This has been a win for farmers needing revenue from their water and a win for buyers needing water for their livelihoods.

“I commend the staff in our Deniliquin office for their efforts to make this happen.”

NSW Water Commissioner David Harriss said that while the ballot system may not suit everyone it is seen as the fairest way to allow as many people to have an equal chance to participate.

“We will consider a second ballot if required and if the circumstances allow additional water to be delivered to downstream users via the Murray River,” Mr Harriss said.

-ENDS-

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Jane Urquhart (02) 6841 2087 or 0429 449 711